Local News

Out-of-Control Prescribed Burn Chars 200 Acres

A controlled burn by the Army got out of control yesterday, and charred 200 acres in Wahiawa, closing Kamehameha Highway from Kamananui Road to Weed Junction from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Unpredictable winds fueled the flames. About 80 Honolulu and federal firefighters were sent to the scene and two helicopters were used to make water drops. US Army Garrison-Hawaii released a statement saying the fire was a test burn coordinated between Colorado State University contracted by the US Army, landowner Dole Food Company, and US Army Garrison Hawaii's Wildland Fire Program. The plan was to burn four separate test plots, 50-by-75 meters, located in a fallow agricultural field, between Helemano Military Reservation and Kamehameha Highway. Changing weather conditions took the fire out of control.